Locking center pin for railway cars



Aug. 20, 1929. O'CONNOR 1,725,413

LOCKING can-ran PIN FOR RAILWAY CARS Filed April 9, 1928 I: I J 3 I xi 5 E g Q Patented Aug- 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

TO W. H. MINER, INC., DELAWARE.

LOCKING CENTER PIN FOR RAILWAY CARS.

Application filed April 9,

This invention relates to improvements in looking center pins for railway cars.

The main object of this invention is to provide a simple and efficient locking means for center pins for railway cars, which connect the body bolster members to the truck members, which will effectively hold the parts against accidental separation, wherein a sectional locking member is employed which co-operates with and isheld by retaining walls or surfaces which form seats on the pin and one of said members, respectively, the walls being so disposed as to positively prevent accidental displacement of the 1 locking member.

Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of the upper end portion of the center pin,.which connects the body bolster to a truck bolster member of a railway car, illustrating my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view through the body bolster and the co-opera'ting truck bolster member of a railway car, corresponding substantially to the line 22 of Figure 1. And Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line 33 of Figure 2.

In said drawings, 10 designates the central portion of one of the body bolsters of a railway car, which is supported on the usual bolster construction of the co-operating truck member of the car. The truck member comprises the usual spaced truck bolster members proper, not shown, and the transom or arch member which forms a part of the bolster construction. In Figure 2, the central portion of the transom member is designated by 11 and, as shown, is provided with a bearing block 12 supported on the upper surface thereof, the bearing block being mounted in the usual seat indicated by 13.' The bearing member 12 cooperates with a bearing member 14 formed integral. with the bottom portion of the body bolster 10. The co-operating bearing members 12 and 14 are of the usual type employed in connection'with the body bolsters and truck bolster members of railway cars and, as shown, the bearing surfaces proper are of spherical form and the central portion of 1928. Serial No. 268,563.

the truck wardly flaring substantially frusto-conical seat 19 at the upper end thereof.

My improved safety center locking pin arrangement includes, broadly, a pin proper A and a sectional locking ring B composed of four sections.

The pin A has a main body portion of substantially square cross section, the diagonals of the square being, as shown, substantially equal to the diameter of the pin re ceiving openings. Adjacent the bottom end, the pin A is provided with an annular enlargement. 20 which substantially fits the pin receiving opening. Outwardly of the enlargement, the pin is provided with an annular head 21 which substantially fits the seat 18. At the upper end, the pin is also provided with an integral head member 22 which is of slightly less diameter than the diameter of the pinr'eceiving opening, so that the pin may be inserted through the bottom of the truck bolster member 11 into the body bolster. On the inner side, the head 22 is cut away to present an annular inwardly converging section 23-which extends to the side walls of the square section of the pin. The wall of the annular section 23 is preferably disposed parallel to the wall of the seat 19 and forms a co-operating seat member, for a purpose hereinafter pointed out. Spaced inwardly from the head 22 is I providean annular section 24 formed integrally with the square main body portion of the pin A, the annular section 24 substantlally fitting the pin receiving opening 16;

My improved locking member B preferably comprises four sections 252525-25 which are in the .form of blocks.

When the sections are assembled, they form a complete annulus, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. Each block 25 is provided with an outer curved surface 26 which substantially fits block the curved wall of the seat 19. The top face of each block, as shown, is substantially flush with the top face of the body bolster and the top face of the head 22 of the pin A. On the inner side, each block presents a curved, inclined face 27, WlllClllS substantially parallel to the face 26 and fits the surface 23 of the head 22. Above the face 27, the block 25 is provided with a vertically disposed curved surface which fits the outer curved surface of the head 22. In order to facilitate the removal of the sections 25, each block is provided with a recess 28 in which a tool may be engaged to force the laterally outwardly. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the blocks 25 fit snugly between the seats formed on the body bolster and on the head 22 of the pin A, and thereby prevent downward displacement of the pinand removal thereof from the body bolster. It will be evident that the blocks 25, which form the sectional retaining member B, are maintained in position by the action of gravity, due to the inclination of the walls of the seats on the head of thepin and the body bolster 10. v

In assembling the parts, the center pin A is inserted through the truck bolster member 11, so as to assume the position shown in Figure 2 The four blocks 25 of the sectional retaining member B are then placed in position and are held in position with respect to the center pin A by engagement withthe fiat side faces of the square section of said pin. When it is desired to disconnect the body bolster member 10 from the truck bolster member 11, the sections 25 are forced laterally outwardly by engaging a tool within the opening 28 of each block and striking the tool with a hammer and so directing the blow that the block B will be forced laterally away from the center .of the pin. After the four blocks 25 have been removed, the pin may be dropped through the openings 16 and 17 of the body and truck bolster members.

While I have herein shown and described what I consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merelyillustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications which come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: I

1,. In a center pin locking arrangement for railway cars, the combination with a body bolster member and a truck bolster member, said members having a swiveled connection and being providedwith aligned center pin receiving openings, one of said members having the outer end portion of the opening thereof enlarged to provide a seat, said seat having an inclined wall section; of a center pin extending through said aligned openings and having an inclined abutment surface at one end. extending in the same general direction as said inclined wall section and spaced therefrom; and a removable locking member interposed and fitting between said inclined wall section and inclined abutment face.

2. In a center pin locking arrangement for railway cars, the combination with a truck bolster member; of a car body bolster member swiveled thereon, said members having aligned pin receiving openings, and one of said bolsters being provided with an in clined seat adjacent the pin receiving opening thereof; a center pin having an integral head at one end engaging abutment means on the other bolster member, said pin extending through saidpin receiving openings 1 and being cut away at the other end, said cut away portion presenting a laterally outwardly flaring wall opposed to the inclined seat; and a locking element interposed and fitting between said seat and flaring wall portion ofthe pin.

3. In a center pin locking arrangement for railway cars, the combination with a truck bolster member; of a body bolster member swiveled thereon, said members having aligned center pin receiving openings, one of said members being provided withan annular seat having opposed wall sections thereof converged inwardly; a center pin extending through said openings, said pin having a head at one end of greater diameter than the pin receiving openings of the members, the opposite end of the pin being provided with a head of a size to freely pass through said pin receiving openings, said head being provided with an annular seat portion, the walls of which on opposite sides of the head converge inwardly of the pin, said walls being opposed to and spaced from the'walls of the seat of the bolster member when the pin is in assembled position; and a detachable, sectional annular locking element fitting between the walls of said seats.

4. In a center pin locking arrangement for railway cars, the combination with a truck bolster member; of a body bolster ,member swiveled on the truck bolster member, said members being provided with aligned pin receiving openings, the body bolster member being, provided with an annular, outwardly flaring seat at the top thereof, said seat forming a continuation of the pin receiving opening; a-center pin extending through said openings and having an integral head at the lower end thereof of larger size than said openings, said head engaging the truck bolster member to prevent upward movement of the pin, the opposite end of the pin being provided with a head of a diameter not greater than the diameter of the pin receiving openings, said last-named head having an annular wall parallel to the wall ofthe flaring seat and spaced therefrom; a sectional locking ring interposed between said head and seat, said sectional locking ring snugly fitting the space therebetween.

5. In a center pin locking arrangement for railway cars, the combination with a truck bolster member; of a body bolster member swiveled on the truck bolster memher, said bolster members being provided with aligned pin receiving openings of circular cross section, the body bolster member being provided with an annular upwardly flaring seat at the top thereof, forming a continuation of the pin receiving opening; a center pin of square cross section fitted within the pin receiving openings of the bolster members, said pin having an integral head at the lower end thereof of larger size than said pin receiving openings, said head engaging the truck bolster member to prevent upward movement of the pin the opposite end of the pin being provided with an annular head of a diameter not greater than the diameter of the pin receiving openings, said head havin an annular wall parallel to the wall of t e flaring seat and spaced therefrom; and an annular, sectional lockin member composed of a plurality of blocks fitting between the seat of the bolster memher and the annular wall of the pin, and having flat inner edges engaging the fiat side faces of the square section of the pin.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 6th day of April, 1928.

JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

